The Film Daily (1920)

Sunday. Time 6, 1920 bM?I DAIUY n Alternates Between Good Comedy Sequences and Uninteresting Lapses Max Linder in "THE LITTLE CAFE" Pathe DIRECTOR Raymond Tristan Bernard AUTHOR Raymond Tristan Bernard SCENARIO BY Not credited CAMERAMAN Not credited AS A WHOLE Contains a number of good comedy sequences but lapses into the commonplace quite often. STORY Contains a very good comedy idea, but possibilities are not fully realized. DIRECTION Shows irregular sense of comedy PHOTOGRAPHY Satisfactory LIGHTINGS Same CAMERA WORK Average STAR Gets comedy over very well, but at times seems to suffer from lack of direction. SUPPORT Capable EXTERIORS Lots of interesting shots of Paris INTERIORS Average DETAIL All right CHARACTER OF STORY Adventures of a waiter who inherits a fortune. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 4,783 feet "The Little Cafe," an adaptation of the musical comedy of the same name, produced in Paris, proves to be a picture containing a number of good comedy sequences, but which often lapses into the commonplace because of lack of imagination and the knowledge of what continuous comedy is on the part of those concerned in the production. First there is a sequence well handled from practically every comedy viewpoint. Then the action takes on a commonplace appearance that registers little or anything. Thus it goes throughout. It really looks as if they had attempted to make an exact reproduction of the musical comedy and when they came to the parts where the music was important didn't have the imagination to fill in with original matter. The idea of the plot is slight but one containing rich possibilities for this field of work. Max Linder appears as a water in the Little Cafe. An old servant of his uncle's home learns that he is to inherit a fortune and straightway cooks up a scheme to get a cut of the money. He goes to Max's boss and influences him to sign him up for twenty years with a stipulation in the contract that whoever breaks the agreement shall forfeit half a million francs. So when Max learns of his inheritance all he can do is to stay on in the Little Cafe rather than make the forfeit. The rest of the picture is comprised of some good situations and some commonplaces, but the general effect is pleasing. Max at first tries to make the proprietor of the cafe break the contract by giving away his choicest liquers, but this plan fails. He then takes to going out at nights after work to other cafes, where he becomes known as an eccentric millionaire. The sequence in the cafe where he pretends to be a waiter to his party of guests in order to throw a lady friend off the right track is about the funniest of the lot. Had the picture been produced by an American director more attention would have been paid to the romantic element, which is very poorly developed here. Even in this type of comedy, which contains some knockabout work, a romantic action thread is welcome and often necessary. However, the French director has presented a number of interesting views of the Paris streets that help to make up for his frequent lapses from the proper comedy vein. The star is very good in the comedy sequences but is lost along with the humor when the director forgets. Wanda Lyon is the girl with little to do. The rest of the cast is made up of a group of players, some of whom have an excellent idea of what comedy is. Satisfactory Entertainment Should Give Fair B. O. Showing Box Ofifice Analysis for the Exhibitor You aren't going to establish any laugh records with this, but at the same time it stands a good chance of giving audiences average satisfaction in the comedy line. Its comedy sequences are good when they appear and the views of Paris help things considerably when the action is inclined to drag. If you show this make a point of announcing that it marks the return to the screen of Max Linder, most popular comedian in France, after a long absence due to illness from war injuries. He has many admirers in this country and this first reappearance should attract from old time's sake. Mention the fact that this was made in Paris and that it contains many scenes shot on that city's streets. Also note the fact that "The Little Cafe" was a stage play that met with some success here.